KUNAR AGARWAL Safe Hydrants Service Project

WARREN TWP. A year's work and research has had a two-fold effect
on this township.

First, it's helped bring many of its fire hydrants up to date.
Second, it's led to an Eagle Scout badge for the young man who
devised the study.

Kunal Agarwal, a junior at Watchung Hills Regional High School
on Old Stirling Road, said he came up with the service project
mandatory for completing Eagle Scout requirements after a
discussion with Township Administrator Mark Krane.

After the necessary paperwork from the township, Agarwal and
several fellow Scouts began to test the functionality of all 109
hydrants in Zone 3 of the township. They also determined whether
paint or caps were needed, cleaned the surroundings and updated the
map.

"We worked as a team…now the fire department has a more updated
list (of hydrants)," Agarwal said, adding it was a good way to earn
leadership skills. He noted some of the more egregious location
mistakes and offending hydrants were in the area around Watchung
Hills Regional High School.

"It was fun," he said.

He received his award at a ceremony Sunday, Oct. 29 attended by
Mayor Kenneth Brenn, Ellen Zimmerman of the township Board of
Education, and Mike Ferguson of Warren Township, since elected to
Congress as a Republican from the 7th Congressional
district.

Longtime Scout

Gaining Eagle Scout rank was the high point in Agarwal's
Scouting career, which he said began in first grade with the Cub
Scouts. He noted that while Cub Scouts tend to emphasize arts and
crafts, Boy Scouts are more into the outdoors and community
projects.

Agarwal is as successful in the classroom as he is in Scouting.
He is taking five advanced placement courses and said he wants to
major in either chemistry or biology in college. What college? "A
good one, hopefully," he said, but didn't mention any
names.

He competes in tennis and has played saxophone in the school's
concert, jazz and marching bands. He is also a member of the Asian
Culture and AWARE social issues clubs. Finally, he has been a
volunteer at the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville for three
years.

His father, Rajesh Agarwal, is a computer consultant, and his
mother, Rohini Agarwal, also works in that field. His brother,
Vishal, is in eighth grade at Warren Middle School. They reside on
Geiger Lane.

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In recent weeks, Long Hill Township and Watchung Borough passed ordinances allowing their police departments to be able to apply for surplus equipment from the Department of Defense. Long Hill recently procured a Humvee to use in times of flooding, which Watchung states as the reason they are getting into the program. However, in cities around the country, police forces have used the program to obtain military gear, such as weapons and armor.
For more background, go to the link below
http://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/watchung-police-department-hopes-to-receive-equipment-from-department-of/article_12ad002a-92b3-5449-a2cc-4b2cf0ce4339.html